Sheraton Sand Key Resort

Great for families---right on the beach and a view from each room's balcony.

The Sand Key area, just south of Clearwater, offers a small cluster of high-rise condos and a few suite hotels such as this one. The beach stretches out from the hotel, and all 375 rooms have a view of the water. For families who want to load up on groceries and cook for themselves, this is an ideal base for a vacation. Among the in-room amenities are two 27 TVs, Nintendo and pay-per-view movies. Of course, there are also business accoutrements: speaker phones and Internet access among them. For an extra fee, guests can use WiFi (wireless Internet) anywhere on the property, including poolside. Some nice dining venues, including a branch of Ybor City's famed Columbia Restaurant, are located nearby.